Garter

ABSTRACT

A GARTER FOR LADIES&#39;&#39; HOSIERY CONSISTING OF TWO SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT PLATES AND A FLEXIBLE LOOP PASSING THROUGH THE PLATES. EACH OF THE PLATES HAVING A GRIPPING PORTION BETWEEN ITS RESPECTIVE ENDS AND A FINGER RECESS ADJACENT TO ITS RESPECTIVE GRIPPING PORTION TO ALLOW READY ACCESS TO THE GRIPPING PORTION OF THE OTHER PLATE. ONE OF SAID PLATES HAVING A LOCK PORTION AT ONE END AND A GUIDE STEP FOR GUIDING A SECOND LOCK PORTION OF THE OTHER PLATE INTO LOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FIRST-MENTIONED LOCK PORTION.

Jan. 19, 1971 .1.5. svvxERENGA 3,555,635

GARTER United States Patent Olce 3,555,635 Patented Jan. 19, 1971 3,555,635 GARTER John B. Swierenga, 977 S. Shore Drive, Holland, Micll. 49423 Filed Dec. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 602,351 Int. Cl. A41f 11/04 U.S. Cl. 24-245 21 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A garter for ladies hosiery consisting of two substantially flat plates and a flexible loop passing through the plates. Each of the plates having a gripping portion between its respective ends and a finger recess adjacent to its respective gripping portion to allow ready access to the gripping portion of the other plate. One of said plates having a lock portion at one end and a guide step for guiding a second lock portion of the other plate into locking engagement with the first-mentioned lock portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved construction of a garter for attaching hosiery, and especially ladies nylon hosiery, to a support member.

A common garter construction is one which includes a wire or plastic loop to which is attached a ribbon member, and a resilient knob is fixed to the ribbon member, whereby hosiery placed over the knob is placed into engagement with the loop so that the resilience between the knob and the loop holds the hosiery in position. The described -garter construction, though effective for supporting hosiery, produces an undesirable cosmetic effect when that garter is covered by a tight outer garment, since the knob causes a bump in the tight outer garment which detracts from the smooth contour of that garment. In an effort to overcome the undesirable cosmetic effect of the aforedescribed garter, a construction of a greater has been developed wherein two plate-like members are utilized to support the hosiery. Both of the plate-like members contain a slot in one end, which slot receives a loop of elastic material which is connected to a support member. j

One of the plate-like members has a second slot at the other end, and the other plate-like member has an ear at the other end which ear mates with the slot, so that the hosiery is placed over the ear and the ear with the hosiery is positioned through the slot. This second construction of a garter has several disadvantages in that the plate-like members are difficult to hold during manipulation of the garter, and there is a tendency for the hosiery to slip from the ear through the slot.

The present invention provides an improved garter construction wherein two substantially flat plates are provided for attachment to hosiery, wherein the specific arrangement of the various elements is such that the support member keeps the plates in secure locking engagement so that the hosiery is locked securely between the plates, and the construction of the plates is such that the plates may be conveniently manipulated relative to each other and may be easily placed into a locking engagement with each other.

SUMMARY The subject invention relates to a flat garter construction which includes an elongated plate having a first slot in one and adapted to receive a flexible loop, and a lock portion at the other end. The elongated plate has a first gripping portion between the ends and a finger recess formed in one side adjacent to the gripping portion. The garter includes an elongated second plate having a second slot in one end and being adapted to receive the flexible loop, and a sec` ond portion of the lock at the other end adapted to engage releasably the first lock portion. Said second plate has a second gripping portion between the ends and a second linger recess formed in one side adjacent to the second gripping portion to allow ready access to the first gripping portion when the plates are positioned adjacent to each other. It is therefore one of the principal objects of the instant invention to provide a substantially flat garter for supporting hosiery which includes a pair of substantially flat plates having locking means, which garter is supported by a support member, and the construction of the parts of the garter is such that the locking means is held in firm engagement to hold therebetween ladies hosiery.

It is a further object of the herein-disclosed invention to provide a substantially flat garter which includes a pair of flexible plates which may be conveniently manipulated by a person wearing the garter.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved substantially flat garter construction including a pair of at plates, wherein the flat plates may be readily and conveniently placed into locking engagement with each other.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved flat garter construction which may be economically manufactured.

Other objects and uses of the instant invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a perusal of the following specication in light of the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a portion of a pair of ladies hosiery connected to a support member by garters embodying the herein-disclosed invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the garters shown in FIG. 1, shown in an open attitude lwith a portion of a ladys nylon hosiery positioned between parts of lthe garter;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of one of the garters shown in FIG. l, showin-g the garter in a closed or locked attitude;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4, but but showing a portion of a ladys nylon hosiery secured to the garter; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the lock of the garter shown in FIG. 3, but showing the two plates in an open attitude.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and especially to FIG. 1, a portion of a human torso and a portion of a pair of legs attached to the torso is shown therein. Positioned on the torso is a ladys undergarrnent 10 which as attached thereto a pair o-f garters, generally indicated by numeral 12, to which garters is attached a pair of conventional nylon hosiery 14. The undergarment 10 has conventional support loops 16 connected thereto to which loops are connected conventional hooks 18, Each of the garters 12 includes an elastic loop 20, which is mounted on its respective hook 18 to provide a support for the garter. Each garter 12 also includes an outer plate 22 and an inner plate 24, which plates are releasably locked to each other by locking means, as will be described in detail hereinafter.

The outer plate 22, which is an elongated, molded unitary plastic part, generally consists of a thin, flat, flexible body and a locking portion at one end of the body. The body has a transverse slot 26 formed adjacent to one end, which slot receives the loop 20. The other end of the body has the locking portion formed integral therewith, which locking portion is tapered to a narrower portion and has a lock slot 28 formed therein. The lock slot iS parallel to slot 26. The plate 22 has an ear recess 3f) formed in its outer surface, which ear recess opens into lock slot 28. On the other side of plate 22, there is a guide step 32 formed integral with the outer periphery of the end of the plate and the guide step blends into the slot 28 for guiding a portion of the inner plate 24 into the slot, as will be described hereinafter.

The plate 22 has a gripping portion 34 between the ends, which has a serrated surface to provide a friction means. A finger recess 36 is formed in plate 22 adjacent to the gripping portion for reasons which will become apparent hereinafter.

The inner plate 24 is also an elongated molded unitary part made of the same material as plate 22. Plate 24 generally consists of a thin, fiat, flexible body and a locking portion at one end of the body cooperative with the locking portion of plate 22 to lock releasably the plates together. The body has a transverse slot 38 in one end which is identical to slot 26 and receives the elastic loop 20 so that both plates are held together by loop 20. The locking portion of plate 24 includes an ear 40 which is formed integral with the other end of the body. The ear 40 includes a riser 42 formed integral with the bOdy and a head 44 formed integral with the riser. As may be seen in FIG. 6, the riser 42 has a surface 46 which has a back draft for reasons which will become apparent hereinafter. However, the back draft angle may be increased -for a particular application. The plate 24 has a gripping portion 48 between its ends, which has a serrated friction surface on the same side of the plate as the ear 40. A finger recess 50 is formed in the plate adjacent to the friction surface.

Looking'now to FIG. 4, it may be seen that the slot 38 has a surface 52 spaced from the locking portion, and the slot 26 has a surface 54 spaced from its respec tive locking portion. The slot 28 has a surface 56 which is at a 5 angle to mate with surface 46 and the outermost edge of surface S6 is parallel to surface 54. The edge surface 46 of riser 42 is substantially parallel to the surface 52. As is shown in FIG. 4, the distance from surface 46 to surface 52 is indicated as L1, and the distance from surface 56 to surface 54 is indicated as L2. The distance L1 is equal to or slightly less than the distance L2 for reasons which will become apparent hereinafter.

The garter 12 is operated in the following manner. As is conventional, the hook 18 is attached to loop 16, and the elastic loop 20 is connected to hook 18. The size of loop 20 is such that it is large enough to allow the inner and outer plates to separate as needed but not so large that the plates separate when tension on the plates is substantially relieved. With the garter in the open position as shown in FIG. 2, an upper portion of hosiery 14 is placed over head 44 of ear 40 and over a part of the gripping portion 4S. The wearer then grasps the hosiery and the inner plate 24 at the gripping portion 48 with one hand and grasps the outer plate 22 at the gripping portion 34 with the other hand. Since the plates are mounted on the elastic loop 20, the plates are spaced apart and are also slightly flexed. The wearer then places the portion of the hosiery over head 44 into engagement with the guide step 32 and slides the plate 22 until the head falls into slot 28. The head With a portion of the hosiery then rests in the recess in the attitude shown in FIG. 5 with a portion of the hosiery clamped between the plates. It may be appreciated that the finger recesses 36 and 50 provide a convenient means to allow the wearer to grip the plates.

Once the ear is positioned in the slot, the two plates are locked together, inasmuch as the combination of the ear and the slot provides a lock between the plates. It is important to note that the distance L1 is equal to or less than the distance L2. This particular configuration is important to keep the hosiery locked between the plates. Inasrnuch as the distance L1 is equal to or less than the distance L2, the loop 20 tends to pull upward the inner plate so that surface 46 is forced toward surface 56, thereby squeezing the hosiery between those surfaces. It may be appreciated that if the distance L2 were less than the distance L1 there would be a tendency of the surfaces to separate and thereby allow the hosiery to slip between the surfaces 46 and 56. It is well known that the support member may take the form of a corset, panty girdle, garter belt, or the like, so that the suport member is relatively xed around the hips of the wearer. It is also Well known that ladies hosiery customarily has feet in it so that the hosiery is stretched along the length of the leg to cause the hosiery to cling to the contours of the leg, thereby giving shape to the hosiery. The tension in the hosiery tends to pull the hosiery out from between the plates. However, as the hosiery pulls down, there is a reactive force in the elastic loop 20. The reactive force holds the surfaces 46 and 56 together to engage frictionally the hosiery. Furthermore, the surface 46 has a back draft of 5, which tends to hold further the hosiery and to lock together the plates.

It is apparent from the above description that the garter may be simply and conveniently applied Without the necessity of the wearer viewing all of the parts of the garter; that is, it may be done by touch. As is common with many wearers of devices of this type, some of the garters are worn close to the torso on the posterior side, so that the wearer is unable to view the garter, and all manipulation of the garter must be by touch.

Once the garter is attached to the hosiery, the garter provides a very low profile so that even though the wearer dons a tight outer garment, the low profile of the garter does not create an unsightly lump in the contour of the outer garment.

The disengagement of the instant garter from the hosiery is a simple operation. The wearer need only grasp the gripping portions of the plates and separate the ends of the plates having the transverse slots 26 and 38, so that the ear 40 may be removed from slot 28, thereby allowing the hosiery to slide off the ear 40 to free the hosiery.

Although a specific embodiment of the instant invention has been shown and described in detail above, it is readily apparent that those skilled in the art may make various modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is evident that though the descriptions of the instant garter described inner and outer plates, the garter may be used in a manner wherein the position of the plates is reversed. It is to be expressly understood that the subject invention is limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A garter comprising, an elongated first member having a first slot in one end and a first portion of a lock at the other end, said elongated first member having a first gripping portion between the ends thereof and a first finger recess formed in one side thereof adjacent to the first gripping portion, an elongated second member having a second slot in one end and a second portion of the lock at the other end adapted for releasable engagement with the first portion of the lock, and said elongated second member having a second gripping portion between the ends thereof and a second finger recess formed in one side thereof adjacent to the second gripping portion.

2. A garter as defined in claim 1 wherein, the first portion of the lock is a lock slot and the second portion of the lock is an ear positionable in the lock slot for holding the elongated members in releasable locked engagement, and including, guide means formed integral with the elongated first member adjacent to the lock slot for guiding the ear toward the lock slot.

3. A garter as defined in claim 2 wherein, the distance from the edge of the first slot adjacent to the adjacent end of the elongated first member to the edge of the lock slot adjacent to the first slot is equal to or greater than the distance from the edge of the second slot adjacent to the end of the elongated second member to the ear.

4. A garter as defined in claim 3 including, a friction surface formed integral with the first gripping portion and a second friction surface formed integral with the second gripping portion.

5. A garter as defined in claim 3 wherein, the ear has a back draft of 5 in a portion adjacent to the second slot in the second elongated member.

6. A garter as defined in claim 2 including, a friction surface formed integral with the first gripping portion and a second friction surface formed integral with the second gripping portion.

7. A garter as defined in claim 2 wherein, said ear has a back draft in a portion adjacent to the second slot in the elongated second member.

8. A garter as defined in claim 1 including, a friction surface formed integral with the first gripping portion and a second friction surface formed integral with the second gripping portion.

9. A garter as defined in claim 1 wherein, the first portion of the lock is a lock slot and the second portion of the lock is an ear releasably positionable in the lock slot, and the distance from the edge of the `rst slot adjacent to the adjacent end of the elongated first member to the edge of the lock slot adjacent to the first slot being equal to or greater than the distance from the edge of the second slot adjacent to the adjacent end of the elongated second member to the ear, and including, a support positioned in the first and second slots to support the garter, whereby the support engages the elongated second member to hold the ear of the elongated second member in tight engagement with the elongated first member.

10. A garter as defined in claim 9 including, a friction surface formed integral with the first gripping portion and a second friction surface formed integral with the second gripping portion.

11. A garter as defined in claim 10 wherein, said ear has a back draft in a portion adjacent to the second slot in the second elongated member.

12. A garter as defined in claim 9 wherein, said ear has a back draft in a portion adjacent to the second slot in the second elongated member.

13. A garter as defined in claim 12 including, a friction surface formed integral with the first gripping portion and a second friction surface formed integral with the second gripping portion.

14. A garter as defined in claim 1 wherein, the first portion of the lock is a lock slot and the second portion of the lock is an ear formed integral with the elongated second member, said ear having a back draft in a portion formed integral with the elongated second member, wherein engagement of the ear with the elongated first member holds securely the elongated first and second members in a releasable locking engagement.

15. A garter as defined in claim 14 wherein, the back draft on the ear is approximately 5.

16. A garter as defined in claim 14 including, a friction surface formed integral with the first gripping portion and a second friction surface formed integral with the second gripping portion.

17. A garter comprising, an elongated first flexible plate having a transverse slot in one end and a transverse lock slot formed adjacent to the other end, guide means formed integral with the elongated first plate adjacent to the lock slot, said elongated rst plate having a first gripping portion between the ends thereof and a first finger recess formed in one side thereof adjacent to the first gripping portion, an irregular surface formed integral with the first gripping portion to provide a friction surface, an elongated second flexible plate having a second transverse slot adjacent to one end and an ear formed integral with the other end thereof, said ear having a surface substantially parallel to the second slot and having a back draft of 5 defined by said surface, said elongated second plate having a second gripping portion between the ends thereof and a second nger recess formed in one side thereof adjacent to the second gripping portion, an irregular surface formed integral with the second gripping portion to provide a second friction surface therefor, the distance from the ear to the edge of the second slot adjacent to the adjacent end of the elongated second member being equal to or less than the distance from the edge of the first slot adjacent to the adjacent edge of the elongated first plate to the edge of the lock slot adjacent to the first slot, and an elastic loop positioned in the first and second slots.

18. In a fabric clasp comprising a first substantially fiat member, a second substantially fiat member; said members each having an interconnecting end portion, a free end portion, and a body portion therebetween; means interconnecting said interconnecting end portions of each of said first and second members and permitting said body portions to be moved relative to each other and lie substantially fiat against each other; said first member having an opening at its free end portion; said second member having an integral, substantially rigid, hook-like means at its free end portion; said hook-like means being formed by an offset portion extending away from the plane of said second member toward said first member and arranged to extend through said opening, and a terminal portion integral with said offset portion and arranged to extend in at least one direction beyond the boundary of said opening when said offset portion is located within said opening; and means permitting relative movement between the two free end portions of said members in a direction longitudinally of at least one member to permit insertion of said integral and substantially rigid hook-like means through said opening; the improvement comprising a side edge portion of said body portion of said first fiat member extending beyond the marginal side edge of the second fiat member and on the opposite marginal side thereof a side edge portion of the body portion of said second fiat member extending beyond the marginal side edge of the first fiat member, whereby a person can simultaneously grasp the first fiat member on its said side edge portion and the second fiat member on its said side edge portion for manipulating the same.

19. A fabric clasp comprising a first substantially fiat member, a second substantially fiat member; said members each having an interconnecting end portion, a free end portion, and a body portion therebetween; means interconnecting said interconnecting end portions of each of said first and second members and permitting said body portions to be moved relative to each other and lie substantially fiat against each other; said first member having an elongated opening at its free end portion extending lengthwise in a direction across the wdith of said free end and being substantially greater in length than in width; said second member having an integral, substantially rigid, hook-like means at its free end portion; said hook-like means being formed by an ofiset portion extending away from the plane of said second member toward said first member and arranged to extend through said opening, and a terminal portion integral with said offset portion and arranged to extend in at least one direction beyond the boundary of said opening and on the opposite side of said first member than the body portion of said second member when said offset portion is located within said opening, the length and overhang of said terminal portion beyond the boundary of said opening being greater than the width of said elongated opening; and means permitting relative movement between the two free end portions of said members in a direction longitudinally of at least one member to permit insertion of said integral and substantially rigid hook-like means through said opening; the improvement comprising a side edge portion of said body portion of said rst flat member extending beyond the marginal side edge of the second at member and on the opposite marginal side thereof a side edge portion of the body portion of said second flat member extending beyond the marginal side edge of the rst at member, whereby a person can simultaneously grasp the rst flat member on its said side edge portion and the second at member on its said side edge portion for manipulating the same.

20. A fabric clamp comprising a first at member, a second flat member; said members each having an interconnected end portion, a free end portion, and a body portion therebetween; means interconnecting said interconnecting end portions of said rst and second members and permitting said body portions to lie substantially Hat against each other; said free end portions having cooperating securement means whereby a fabric can be secured between said flat members when said free end portions are secured together; and said at members having on the marginal sides of said body portions a side edge portion of said rst at member extending beyond the marginal side edge of the second flat member and on the opposite marginal side thereof a side edge portion of said second flat member extending beyond the marginal side edge of the first at member on its said side edge portion for manipulating the same; said flat members, except for the free end portions, being substantially the same size and shape but when assembled being reversely oriented by one member being in flipped over position with respect to the other member.

21. A device of claim 20 in which each Hat member is substantially crescent shaped.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 992,180 5/ 1911 Floresheim 24-246 2,022,346 11/1935 Hickok 24-73 GSX 2,055,116 9/ 1936 Bissel 24-248HES 2,258,605 10/1941 Garth 24-245 2,281,342 4/1942 Visconti et al. 24-245 2,686,949 8/ 1954 Hawie 24-248HES 3,346,928 10/1967 Lambers 24-245 DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner 

